Swaziland

(Copyright: WFP/Hilary Wartinger)

Swaziland: Nutrition Advice Helps Farmer Win Battle Against AIDS

Diagnosed as HIV positive in 2011, Sabelo became badly malnourished as he struggled to keep his farm going and feed his family. He seemed to be on a downward spiral. But a combination of antiretrovirals, food assistance and nutrition advice turned things around. Today, he grows enough vegetables to keep himself healthy and earn an income on the local market.

Overview

The Kingdom of Swaziland is a landlocked and mountainous country, located between the republics of South Africa and Mozambique. It has a population of about one million people located on approximately 17,400 square kilometres of land. Although Swaziland is classified as a lower middle-income country, it currently faces challenges similar to low-income economies. Swaziland ranks 141 out of 186 countries in the 2012 UNDP Human Development Index and 63 percent of Swazis live below the poverty line, surviving on less than US$1.25 per day.

Vulnerability Assessment Committee Coordinator Thembumenzi Dube gives a presentation on rainfall levels in Swaziland. It is estimated that 67,000 people require immediate food assistance following another year of inadequate rainfall and agricultural production, according to the WFP-supported Swaziland Annual Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis Report.